Injured striker Pavlyuchenko to miss qualifiers

LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko will miss the next two World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Finland with an ankle injury that will keep him out of action for three weeks, his club Tottenham Hotspur said on Tuesday.

Scans revealed he suffered a partially torn ankle ligament
which forced him off during a 1-0 home defeat by Hull City in
the Premier League on Sunday that left Spurs bottom.

"Roman will now undergo further treatment on the ankle after
specialists declared him unfit to play for the next three
weeks," Tottenham said on their website (www.spurs.co.uk).

Pavlyuchenko joined Spurs from Spartak Moscow for 17 million
euros ($23.09 million) on transfer deadline day.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russia coach Guus Hiddink called up
forward Dmitry Sychev and his Lokomotiv Moscow team mate,
central midfielder and squad newcomer Denis Glushakov, as cover
for Saturday's Group Four match against Germany in Dortmund.

Lokomotiv midfielder Dmitry Torbinsky is struggling with a
groin problem while defender Denis Kolodin has been ruled out
for the rest of the year with an ankle injury.

Germany top the group with four points from two games with
Russia in second place after beating Wales in their opener. The
Russians are at home to Finland on Wednesday Oct. 15 in Moscow.